Yorkshire comic festival launches donation drive for libraries and schools

A comic art festival based in Yorkshire is encouraging the public to donate new and used comic books to its organisation, which will then distribute copies to schools and libraries.

The team at Thought Bubble Festival, a week-long celebration of comics and illustration across Yorkshire, will categorise the comics and donate to schools, libraries and charitable organisations across the UK. The festival runs from 8th-14th November.

Donations will be accepted from today (Friday 20th August) until the end of the year. Comic fans can donate titles at designated drop-off points around Yorkshire and the North, as well as at the Comic Convention itself, which is held on 13th-14th November in Harrogate Convention Centre. All sizes of donations are accepted.

The idea was sparked at the start of the pandemic by festival manager Chloe Green. She said: “Consistent budget cuts to the arts, to schools and libraries mean essentials that should be accessible to everyone no longer are; and one of those things is comic books. Everyone knows comics can be fun, superhero-filled fantasies, but they are also excellent tools to express emotional highs and hardships, to share experiences in a much more encompassing and enticing way than can be achieved with words alone; and I think everyone should have the chance to explore them.

"The Comic Book Drive’s aim is to equip schools, libraries and charities with stacks of comics, for everyone to come and enjoy. We want to inspire people to read more, and to write, draw and maybe even become the next big comic book creator that we could have as a future special guest at our convention!”

The festival has worked with with comic book distribution company Diamond UK and Travelling Man, a comic book shop, to donate titles annually to libraries across Yorkshire.

Dawn Stanley-Donaghy, stock and reader development librarian at Leeds City Council, commented: “Comics are a fantastic way to get young people reading. The strong characters and illustrations can encourage even the most reluctant reader and can help children learn to read. As a library service we recognise it is so important for all children to get free access to great reading materials, including comics.”